Resistance of Scots pine wood to Brown-rot fungi after long-term forest fertilization

The susceptibility of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sap- and heartwood against the wood decaying brown-rot fungus (Coniophora puteana) was investigated after long-term forest fertilization at three different sites in central Finland. Different wood properties: wood extractives, wood chemistry, and wood anatomy were used to explain sap- and heartwood decay. Scots pine sapwood was more susceptible to decay than its heartwood. In one site, sapwood seemed to be more resistant to wood decay after forest fertilization whereas the susceptibility of heartwood increased. Significant changes in the sapwood chemistry were found between treatment and sites, however, no relationship between wood chemistry and wood decay was observed in the factor analysis. The results of this study show that there was an inconsistent relationship between decay susceptibility and fertilization and the measured physical and chemical attributes of the wood were not consistently correlated with the decay rate.     

The extensive bloom of alternate-stage Prymnesium polylepis (Haptophyta) in the Baltic Sea during autumn–spring 2007–2008

During autumn 2007, an unusual increase in an algal species belonging to the order Prymnesiales was observed throughout the Baltic Sea Proper during routine national monitoring. Electron microscopical examination of the blooming species showed two types of flat scales – small and large – that resembled those of the alternate stage of Prymnesium polylepis. No spine-bearing scales were found. The 18S rDNA sequence data (n?=?20, c. 1500?bp) verified the species identification as P. polylepis. There was up to 0.5% (7?bp) variability in the P. polylepis partial 18?S rDNA sequences from the Baltic Sea. These environmental sequences differed by 0–0.35% (0–4?bp) from cultured P. polylepis (isolate UIO036), and by 1.0–3.7% from other available Prymnesium sequences. The number of cells assumed to be P. polylepis began to increase in October 2007 coincidently with significantly calm and dry weather, and at their maximum the cells accounted for over 80% of the total phytoplankton biovolume in December–January. During February–April 2008, 95% of the Prymnesiales cells were in the size class of P. polylepis (>6?µm). The species attained bloom concentrations (>1?×?10⁶?cells?l^–1) from March to May 2008. The species was observed throughout the Baltic Sea, except the Bothnian Bay, Gulf of Riga and the Kattegat. No toxic effects of the bloom were observed.     

An evaluation of the influence of water depth and river inflow on quantitative Cladocera-based temperature and lake level inferences in a shallow boreal lake

Hydrological parameters can potentially have an overwhelming influence on sedimentary assemblages of Cladocera at certain sampling sites that can cause problems for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. We applied a previously developed Cladocera-based inference model of water depth and a mean July air temperature transfer function developed in this study to a surface sediment dataset of fossil Cladocera from a lake in eastern Finland aiming to investigate the influence of stream flow and water depth on reconstruction results. The developed temperature-inference model, using the weighted averaging-partial least squares technique, had relatively favourable performance statistics suggesting that it is valid in means of performing temperature estimations. When the temperature model was applied to the intralake samples, the lotic samples had inferred values mostly within the model??s prediction error and only one lotic sample showed an underestimated temperature. Samples taken from depths over ~3 m inferred generally underestimated temperatures, although most of the values were within the model??s prediction error. The water depth reconstructions correlated significantly with the measured water depth, but the shallowest samples and most of the lotic samples yielded overestimated inferred values and the samples taken from depths >5 m showed underestimated values. In both reconstruction sets, the inferred values were underestimated in samples taken from deeper sites. Based on the present results, it may be recommendable that downcore sediment samples should be taken from intermediate depths, where also the diversity is higher, and deepest sites and inflows should be avoided. However, more research is needed to validate these results in a larger geographical context.     

Tree diversity and functional leaf traits drive herbivore‐associated microbiomes in subtropical China

Herbivorous insects acquire microorganisms from host plants or soil, but it remains unclear how the diversity and functional composition of host plants contribute to structuring herbivore microbiomes. Within a controlled tree diversity setting, we used DNA metabarcoding of 16S rRNA to assess the contribution of Lepidoptera species and their local environment (particularly, tree diversity, host tree species, and leaf traits) to the composition of associated bacterial communities. In total, we obtained 7,909 bacterial OTUs from 634 caterpillar individuals comprising 146 species. Tree diversity was found to drive the diversity of caterpillar‐associated bacteria both directly and indirectly via effects on caterpillar communities, and tree diversity was a stronger predictor of bacterial diversity than diversity of caterpillars. Leaf toughness and dry matter content were important traits of the host plant determining bacterial species composition, while leaf calcium and potassium concentration influenced bacterial richness. Our study reveals previously unknown linkages between trees and their characteristics, herbivore insects, and their associated microbes, which contributes to developing a more nuanced understanding of functional dependencies between herbivores and their environment, and has implications for the consequences of plant diversity loss for trophic interactions.     

Scattered late‐glacial and early Holocene tree populations as dispersal nuclei for forest development in north‐eastern European Russia

Aim Concepts about patterns and rates of post‐glacial tree population migration are changing as a result of the increasing amount of palaeobotanical information being provided by macroscopic plant remains. Here we combine macrofossil, pollen and stomata records from five sites in north‐eastern European Russia and summarize the results for the late‐glacial–early Holocene transition. The late‐glacial–early Holocene transition encompasses the first indications of trees (tree‐type Betula, Picea abies, Abies sibirica and Larix sibirica) and subsequent forest development. Considerable time‐lags between the first macrobotanical and/or stomata finds of spruce (Picea abies) and the establishment of a closed forest are reconsidered. Location Pechora basin, north‐eastern European Russia. Methods We used plant macrofossil, stomata, pollen and radiocarbon analyses to reconstruct late‐glacial and early Holocene tree establishment and forest development. The data were derived from lake sediment and peat archives. Results Palaeobotanical data reveal an early Holocene presence (11,500–10,000 cal. yr bp ) of arboreal taxa at all five sites. One site presently located in the northernmost taiga zone, shows the presence of spruce and reproducing tree birch during the late‐glacial. Given the current view of post‐glacial population dynamics and migration rates, it seems likely that the source area of these early tree populations in north‐eastern European Russia was not located in southern Europe but that these populations had local origins. Results thus support the emerging view that the first post‐glacial population expansions in non‐glaciated regions at high latitudes do not reflect migration from the south but were a result of an increase in the size and density of small persisting outlying tree populations. Main conclusions Results suggest that the area east of the margin of the Scandinavian ice sheet to the Ural Mountains had isolated patches of trees during the late‐glacial and early Holocene and that these small populations acted as initial nuclei for population expansion and forest development in the early Holocene.     

Gas chromatographic analysis of therapeutic concentrations of maprotiline in serum, using flame-ionization detection

For the measurement of the tetracyclic antidepressant maprotiline in human serum, a gas chromatographic method with flame-ionization detection has been developed. The assay specifications obtained are as follows: a precision (C.V.) of 3.5–6.4%, and a relative recovery of 97–109% using amitriptyline as internal standard. The sensitivity of the assay from serum was 40 nmol/l. The applicability of the method has been shown by measuring steady-state serum levels of five inpatients. The steady-state serum levels of maprotiline given at a daily dosage of 75 mg varied from 272 to 570 nmol/l.     

Expression of Toll-like receptors in the developing brain

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are key players of the innate and adaptive immune response in vertebrates. The original protein Toll in Drosophila melanogaster regulates both host defense and morphogenesis during development. Making use of real-time PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry we systematically examined the expression of TLR1-9 and the intracellular adaptor molecules MyD88 and TRIF during development of the mouse brain. Expression of TLR7 and TLR9 in the brain was strongly regulated during different embryonic, postnatal, and adult stages. In contrast, expression of TLR1-6, TLR8, MyD88, and TRIF mRNA displayed no significant changes in the different phases of brain development. Neurons of various brain regions including the neocortex and the hippocampus were identified as the main cell type expressing both TLR7 and TLR9 in the developing brain. Taken together, our data reveal specific expression patterns of distinct TLRs in the developing mouse brain and lay the foundation for further investigation of the pathophysiological significance of these receptors for developmental processes in the central nervous system of vertebrates.